Creel



United States Patent John Kay Pringle Mackie Belfast, Ireland 759,101

Sept. 1 1', 1968 Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee James Mackie & Sons LimitedBelfast, Ireland [32] Priority Sept. 25, 1967 [33] Great Britain [31] 1No. 43591/67 [72] Inventor [2|] Appl.No.- [22] Filed [45] Patented [54]CREEL 15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 242/ 129.8, 242/ 1 56.2, 242/57 [51 Int. Cl B65h 49/00 50FieldolSearch 242/l29.8. 156. 156.2. 57, 75.43; 28/28 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,250 1/1954 Liebrandt 242/57x 2,924,8692/1960 Klein etal 28/28 Primary Examiner-Leonard D. ChristianAttorney-Dowell & Dowell ABSTRACT: A method of braking packages mountedon a creel or the like comprising inflating or deflating, an inflatablemember and employing the inflation or deflation to cause the package ora part of its support rotating therewith to be engaged by or to engage abrake surface.

PATENTED BEEZS 1970 PATENTEllnEczelem 3550.876 SHEET 2 BF 7 InventorCREEL This invention relates to creels on which supply packages aremounted so as to allow the material to be from the packages by sidewayswithdrawal as opposed to overend withdrawal. Such creels are ofparticular interest to those concemed with the weaving of cloth fromtapelike material when it is important that the material remains flatand without twist when unwound from the supply package,

Normally the supply packages are mounted on spindles or betweenrotatable arbors inserted at each end of the package. These must be freeto rotate and because of this a stop mechanism has been provided foreach spindle to detect an end break and then to brake the package orspindle and thus prevent the momentum of the package from continuing tounwind material which, because of the loss of tension due to the endbreak, would most likely become entangled with neighboring ends thusadding to'the work to be don'e'when piecing the end. Without resortingto intricate detector stop mechanisms it has however been difficult toachieve a reasonably quick braking action on the package. Further as abeaming machine, for example, employs creels with perhaps thousands ofpackage holders (spindles) it will be appreciated that heavy expense isinvolved in the provision of a braking mechanism for each spindleespecially if intricate braking mechanisms are being used.

These problems are solved, with a creel in accordance with theinvention, by the provision of one or more inflatable members which intheir nonoperative position allow packages mounted in the creel freelyto rotate and which when in their operative position due to either theirinflation or deflation, cause the packages or a part rotating therewithto be engaged or to engage, a brake surface to stop rotation of thepackages.

The member(s) are, in use, connected to a source of fluid under pressureand means are provided to cause the member(s) to be inflated ordeflated, when winding has been interrupted due for example to a yarn ortape end break, the member being subsequently deflated or inflated toallow winding to recommence. The means for causing inflation and/ordeflation may comprise a standard stop motion associated with the winderand a valve device in the supply of compressed air or other fluid andconnected to the stop motion.

This solution is neither sophisticated norcostly indeed the apparatus isinexpensive to produce, and yet almost instantaneously arrests thepackages. There is no' necessity for heavy parts to act on individualtapes which present tensioning difficulties, nor is there any need forthe brake device to be in contact with any of the revolving partsthroughout normal operation. It therefore in no way affects the freerunning of the supports or packages.

The inflatable member is preferably a tube and it will be understoodthat a single tube could follow a tortuous path so as to act on all thepackages on a creel but this would lead to a slight time lag inarresting some of the packages and although this lag would in allprobability be so small as to be insignificant it is preferred to have afeed pipe positioned midway along the creel and inflatable tubesextending from either side of this pipe along each row of packages.

An inflatable member may itself be positioned so that on inflation itdirectly engages a package or a part of a rotating package support andin this case the member may be provided with a wear-resistant brakesurface. Alternatively inflation of the member may be arranged to causea separate wear-resistant brake member to engage the package or a partrotating therewith. On deflation the brake surface is moved clear of allrotating pans.

As another alternative the inflatable member(s) may be so arranged andpositioned that when inflated it raises the package supports clear of abraking surface, without affecting their free rotation but on deflationoccurring the rotating packages or support assemblies are brought intocontact with a braking surface.

The invention extends not only to a creel for use for exam- ;ple with abeaming machine, but also to-a method of braking packages mounted on acreel or the like comprising inflating, or deflating, an inflatablemember and employing the inflation, or deflation, to cause the packageor a part of its support rotating therewith, to engage or be engaged bya brake surface and further extends to a brake system for such a creelcomprising one or more inflatable tubes designed to extend along anumber of packages on a creel either a brake member or surface beingprovided for each package or the tube(s) being provided with awear-resistant surface, and means to cause the tube(s) to be inflated,or deflated, on interruption of winding due for example to an end break.

The invention will now be further described by way of example withreference to the accompanying sketch drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of one embodiment of a creel inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation corresponding to FIG. 1 showing theinflatable member, deflated;

FIG. 3 is also an end elevation core corresponding to FIG. 1 but showingthe inflatable member, inflated;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of an alternative embodiment showing theinflatable member, deflated;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the inflatable memberinflated;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a part of the midsection of the creel ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a part of the creel; I

FIG. Sis the pneumatic braking circuit;

FIG. 9 is the electrical circuit, and

FIGS. 10 and10a are diagrams illustrating an end break detector.

A creel, a part of which is shown in FIG. 1 comprises a framework ofuprights 2 and horizontal channel members 4 mounting a number ofsupports for the packages 6 each support comprising a dish 8 having aspigot (not shown) on which the package rests with its axis vertical,each dish 8 having a spindle 10 mounted for rotation in bearings 11secured to the horizontal member 4 of the creel. Yarn or plastic tapeindicated at 13 is drawn sideways from each package through 1 guide eyes12 on the uprights and the tension in the yarn which isbeing wound forexample by a beaming machine causes the packages and their supports, torotate. If one of the yarn ends should break or if winding should beinterrupted for any other reason it is necessary for all the packages tobe stopped as quickly as possible because if the many packages, forexample 1,000, on the creel should continue to rotate for even onerevolution an enormous overspill of slack material is created whichwould become entangled with parts of the creel and around or under thepackage supports. The brake mechanism to stop this overrun comprises aninflatable member in the form of a tube 14 which extends along each ofthe horizontal members 4 beneath all the dished package supports 8 andis located by clamps 16. Either a single tube may extend in a tortuouspath so as to pass beneath all of the package supports or alternativelyas illustrated in FIG. 6 a number of separate tubes one for each row,are employed each connected at 18 to a common manifold 20.

A separate brake strip 21 of wear resistant material is positionedbetween the tube 14 and the underside of the dishes 8.

The manifold, the tube, or each tube, is connected to a source ofcompressed air or other fluid and means are provided to cause the tubeto be inflated to the position shown in FIG. 3 when winding isinterrupted. During normal winding,

the tube is deflated and is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 sothat it does not contact the'package or its support which can freelyrevolve. On inflation of the tube caused by operation for example of astandard stop motion generally illustrated at 22 (FIG. 7) which formspart of the beamer and which is connected to a valve controlling thesupply of compressed air, the brake strip 21 is caused to engage theunderside of the dishes 4 as shown in FIG. 3 immediately to stoprotation of the spindle.

During use air is fed from a main supply (not shown) through a pipeline22 (see FIG. 8) which passes through a hand operated valve 24 a filter26 and a reservoir 28 of suffrcientv'olume to be able virtuallyinstantaneously to inflate the complete length of the brake tube 14employed on the creel.

During operation of a machine a pneumatic valve 30 which is connected tothe reservoir 28 by a line 32, is maintained in the position indicatedat A by energization of a solenoid 34 so that air can pass from thesupply through the valve 30 to a charge cylinder 36.

The solenoid 34 is energized by operation of the main drive start buttonfor a short period to enable the beam to absorb any slack in the endsbeing wound especially so as to give end break detectorsdiagrammatically illustrated at 42 in FIG. time to close if no end is infact still broken. Should, however, any of the ends not be properlyjoined then one of the contacts '42 remains open so that the holdingcoil 44will not be energized and hence the main contact 46 will reopenwhen the start button 38 is released.

If, however, all the contacts 42 are made, the effect of the holdingcoil 44 acts to keep the main contactor 46 closed and when the startbutton is released the machine is kept energized as and until one of theend break detectors acts to open one of the contacts 42.

As can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 10a one form of suitable end breakdetectors or stop motion comprises a pivoted lever 48 having an eye 50through which the yarn end runs between two fixed eyes 52. When the yarnend is not broken and is under tension it maintains the pivotal lever 48in the position shown in FIG. 10 with a contact 54 in engagement of asecond contact 56 providing a circuit through the contact generallyindicated at 42 in FIG. 9. When the yarn end breaks and the tension isremoved the pivoted lever 48 pivots in a clockwise direction to theposition shown in FIG. 10a in which the contacts 54 and 56 are apart andthe contact generally indicated at 42 in FIG. 9 is open.

Once the contact 42 has opened the holding coil 44 is deenergized andthe main contactor 46 opens so as to stop the main drive to the machine.At the same time the valve solenoid 34 is deenergized so that thepneumatic valve 30 shown in FIG. 8 changes over to the positionindicated at B connecting by a line 58, the charge cylinder 36 to apilot cylinder 60 of a pneumatic valve generally indicated at 62. Thepressure acts to change the valve 62 against its spring loading from theposition shown at A to that shown at B. When the valve is in theposition B, air passes from the reservoir 28 through a pipeline 64 tothe manifold and hence to the brake tubes 14 which are instantaneouslyinflated to stop the rotation of the various packages on the creel.

An air flow regulator 66 is located in the pipeline 58 and acts slowlyto exhaust the charged air from the pilot cylinder 60 so that shortlyafter the brake tubes have been inflated the pneumatic valve resumes itsnatural position A under the influence of its spring and the air in thebrake tubes is then able to exhaust through the valve 62 to an outletgenerally indicated at 68 so as to remove the brake tubes from contactwith the package supports so that they can then again freely rotate whenthe machine is restarted.

When the operator has joined the broken end and has pressed the startbutton 38 the solenoid 34 is reenergized changing the valve 30 back tothe position A so that air can again fill the charge cylinder 36 readyfor the next brake cycle. It will be appreciated that the braking actioncomes into effect if the operator breaks the electrical drive circuit ofthe machine by a main switch as that 46 shown in FIG. 9 and hence itwill be appreciated that the brakes are applied even when the operatorsimply wishes to stop the machine and irrespective of whether an endbreak has occurred.

The pneumatic circuit also includes a pressure switch 70 which islocated in the conductor extending between the start button 38 and coilportion 40 of theelectrical circuit shown in FIG. 9. The purpose of thisswitch is to ensure that air is always supplied and if, for example, thesupply fails or if the pressure falls below a certain value. the switch70 will open and will act to stop the main drive while sufficient airremains?" shown in FIG. 5 which has the effect of lifting the spindleand hencethe package and its support relatively to the frame of" thecreel and so that the dish 8 is clear of the brake pad 78.

On operation of the stop motion of the beamer or an equivalent devicethe tube is caused to be deflated to the position shown in FIG. 4whereupon the package and its dish drops relatively to the frame of thecreel and the undersurface of the package support 8 contact the brake 78to stop rotation.

On resumption of winding the tube is again inflated so that the packageis then lifted clear of the brake and normal winding can be recommenced.The deflation of the tube can be achieved by the system essentiallysimilar to that described above in connection with FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 butwith the valve 62 arranged to connect the manifold 20 to the exhaust 68when the pilot 60 is pressurized and to the supply when the pilot 60 isdepressurized.

If no separate brake :pad 21 isprovided the surface of the brake tubeswill normally be protected from undue wear by providing the tubes with asurface of a wear resistant material.

Iclaim: 1 v

l. A method of braking packages mounted on a creel or the likecomprising pressure varying the size of an inflatable member andemploying the said. variation to cause the package with part of itssupport rotating therewith to engage a.

brake surface so as to stop rotation of the package.

2. A creel or the like for supporting a number of rotatable packages ofyarn or tape having package supports and having to their variation insize cause the package supports rotating a with the packages to engagethe braking surfaces of the inflatable members to stop rotation of thepackages. 1

' 3. A creel as claimed in claim 2 in which means are provided to causethe members to be pressure varied in size when winding is interrupteddue to a-yarn or tape end break, also due to operation of a stop switch,the members being subsequently pressure varied in size to allow windingto commence.

4. A creel as claimed in claim 2 in which the pressure variationcomprises a stop motion and a valve device located in the supply ofcompressed fluid and connected to the stop motion.

5. A creel as claimed in claim 2 in which a number of in flatable tubesare provided each extending along a part of the creel and connected to acommon feed pipe manifold.

6. A creel as claimed in'claim 2 in which the inflatable member is asingle tube positioned in a tortuous path so as to act on all thepackages on a creel.

7. A creel as claimed in claim 2 in which the inflatable members arepositioned so that on inflation same directly engage a rotating packagesupport.

8. A creel as claimed in claim 7 in which the inflatable members areprovided with wear-resistant brake surfaces.

9. A creel as claimed in claim 8 in which each inflatable member is sopositioned and arranged as, on inflation, to cause a separatewear-resistant brake surface to engage a package support rotatingtherewith.

10. A creel as claimed in claim 9 in which the inflatable members are soarranged and positioned that when inflated 11. A creel as claimed inclaim 4 including a fluid reservoir connected to the inflatable members,and a pneumatic valve which is arranged to be changed over to permit theinflation of the members by a solenoid which is energized or deenergizedby said stop motion and also by end break detectors when a break in anyyarn end occurs.

12. A creel as claimed in claim ll wherein the solenoid operatedpneumatic valve acts, when an end break occurs, to allow compressedfluid to act on a second pneumatic valve which is present in thepipeline, between the main reservoir and the inflatable members, a fluidflow regulator being provided in this pipeline slowly to release thepressure of acting on the second valve so that after a predeterminedtime the valve changes back to its normal position allowing the brakemembers to deflate.

13. A creel as claimed in claim 11 having a pressure switch which actsto stop the machine if the pressure of fluid falls below a predeterminedfigure and simultaneously to cause the solenoid operated valve to changeto the position in which the inflatable members are inflated.

14. A creel as claimed in claim 11 in which the end break detectorcontacts are in an electric circuit from the main drive to the machine.

15. A brake system for a creel as claimed in claim 2 comprising one ormore inflatable tubes designed to extend along a number of packages onthe creel, one brake member being provided for each package, and theinflatable tubes being each provided with a wear resistant surface; anda means to cause the tubes to be pressure varied in size on interruptionof a circuit due to an end break.

